If you’re a fan of the sleek bald look, you’re probably familiar with the quintessential culture and aesthetic of barber shops, like the one below.
There is often a tightly knit community within barbershop circles. These circles are generally inclusive of ethnic communities, such as individuals of Hispanic or Afro-Caribbean descent.
A less positive association of barbershops and the culture around it, however, is the prevalence of “Barber’s rash”. Barber’s rash is the outbreak of acne and itchy bumps after a close shave, usually at a parlor. Many people associate barber shop clippers with this rash. And men, especially men of color, can trace an outbreak on their back hairline to a visit at their barber’s.
However, these breakouts can be early signs of a more serious skin condition known as acne keloidalis nuchae - or AKN.
What Causes Acne on the Back of the Head?
While the exact cause of this skin condition is unknown, many medical experts have noticed a prevalence of its occurrence in young African American and Hispanic men. The small bumps, typically just above the neck, can easily be mistaken for a rash or razor burn. However, unlike those temporary irregularities, AKN does not typically go away on its own--often, it tends to progress into more severe stages.
The association of shaved heads and acne on the back of the head has spawned the hypothesis that the improper regrowth of hair after a shave causes AKN. Experts tend to agree, however, that the general onset is as follows:
The body mistakes its own hair as an invading pathogen and responds accordingly.
The follicle becomes inflamed, forming the bumps.
As the body attempts to heal itself, thick skin develops over the bumps.
Sometimes, tufts of hair can be seen sticking out of some keloid-like bumps on the back of the neck.
Why Is No One Talking About This?
The silence around this condition that affects predominately Black and Hispanic men is troubling. When left untreated, the bumps on the head can fuse together into a larger mass.
Part of the issue is simply a lack of knowledge on the condition, both on the part of the community that suffers from it, as well as the medical community in diagnosing it. Often, it takes a specialized physician, like Dr. Umar in Los Angeles, to identify and properly remove these AKN bumps.
There are treatments available for chronic acne on the back of the head. This Chicago native describes his experience as “freeing” since having had his AKN lumps removed.
